Santa Fe Trail
Campground · Kansas · 33 bookable sites ·
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
- 33
- Bookable sites
- 102 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 75
- People per site
- 1,295 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Santa Fe Trail Campground is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.Recreation
Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience.The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye.
Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of hunting lands surrounding the lake.
Hiking trails wind along the lake shore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background.
Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America.
Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.
Facilities
Santa Fe Trail Campground offers 35 reservable campsites, including one group camping area that can accommodate up to 75 guests. Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided.The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.
Natural Features
Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake was created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.The facts
- 33 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 102 ft
- Up to 75 people per site
- Loops: SFET
Site types
- 31 Standard Electric
- 1 Group Standard Electric
- 1 Tent Only Nonelectric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: grills.
33 campsites at Santa Fe Trail
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 56 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 54 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 44 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 004 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 70 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 006 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 44 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 007 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 57 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 39 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | SFET | Standard Electric | Pull Through | Gravel | — | — | 102 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 010 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 47 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 011 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 49 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 012 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | Moderate | Lakefront | 43 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 013 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | Lakefront | 49 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 014 | SFET | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 015 | SFET | Standard Electric | Pull Through | Paved | — | Lakefront | 69 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 016 | SFET | Standard Electric | Pull Through | Paved | — | Lakefront | 44 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 017 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 018 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 46 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 019 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 68 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 020 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 67 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 021 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 66 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 022 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 70 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 023 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 70 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 024 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 025 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 63 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 026 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 72 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 027 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 70 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 028 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 68 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 029 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 78 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 030 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 68 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 031 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | Lakefront | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 032 | SFET | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 55 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| S-1 | SFET | Group Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | 50 ft | 75 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Continue west across the dam road, then right onto City Lake Road. After a mile turn right into the campground entrance.
38.68189, -96.52486 · 38°40'54.8"N 96°31'29.5"W
Typical weather
Typically 90°F in Jul, down to 40°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 40 | 45 | 56 | 67 | 75 | 85 | 90 | 89 | 81 | 69 | 55 | 44 |
| Low °F | 20 | 23 | 33 | 44 | 55 | 65 | 69 | 67 | 58 | 45 | 33 | 24 |
| Precip in | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Santa Fe Trail
- Can you reserve a site at Santa Fe Trail?
- Yes, Santa Fe Trail is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Santa Fe Trail have?
- 33 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Santa Fe Trail?
- 102 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Santa Fe Trail?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Santa Fe Trail.
- Does Santa Fe Trail have hookups?
- Electric, Water, Sewer.
- Are campfires allowed at Santa Fe Trail?
- Campfires are allowed at Santa Fe Trail. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Santa Fe Trail
- Neosho Park 0.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Canning Creek 1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Kanza View 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Kit Carson 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Richey Cove 2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- North Richey Cove 2.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- East Rolling Hills Park (KS) 33.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Outlet Park (KS) 33.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- West Rolling Hills 34.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- North Overlook Park (KS) 34.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Marion Cove 36.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Visitor Center 17.3 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 620-767-5195
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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